Foul!

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol SO should we just chain ourselves to trees, I asked environmentalist Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil at the sidelines of the recent KL Fashion Week. The Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Sekitar (Peka) president broke into a smile while her associates, who were seated  on the same table, laughed. In a classy blue dress, accompanied by a tiara on her head, Sabrina looked like an Arabian princess from a Walt Disney movie as we discussed something close to our hearts —Mother Nature. She apologised for being “overly” dressed, stressing it was her way of showing support to the fashion show. But she was certainly not sorry over her sharp criticism of the authorities in protecting the environment. There are those who have rubbished Sabrina’s work, and those who speak ill about the work of Peka and similar NGOs. Environmental activists are often seen as those with nothing better ...

As published in Malay Mail today. By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my KUALA LUMPUR — Another environmental group has come out with guns blazing, criticising the Pahang government over the excessive clearing of land in the Cameron Highlands. Association for the Protection of Natural Heritage of Malaysia president Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil also took the extreme stand that all development projects there should cease and the military roped in to help safeguard the area. “There’s too much development ... very weak state government. Many individuals believe they are above the law,” she said. “All this needs to stop. Then we can save the Cameron Highlands.” Shariffa said since the Cameron Highlands were the highest hill resort in the country, efforts must be taken to preserve instead of exploit it. “One way of preservation is to stop further infrastructure work that would constitute more cutting down of trees and hills,” she said. “(The authorities need to) monitor further...